This article is about the novel. You may be looking for Phase III of the Star Wars: The High Republic multimedia project or the novel's audiobook adaptation.

The High Republic: Trials of the Jedi is a Star Wars: The High Republic adult novel by Charles Soule. It was published as the final novel of the multimedia project's Phase III, as well as the project itself, on June 17, 2025. Its audio version was released alongside the novel.

Publisher's summary

In this epic conclusion to Star Wars: The High Republic, the Jedi face a final confrontation against the Nihil and Marchion Ro.

The Force is everything. A single life connected to all life. All things connected to all other things. This is what the Jedi believe, and this is why they fight. For life…and the light.

For too long, the light has been threatened by Marchion Ro, a sinister despot who will stop at nothing in his quest for power. The conflict with Ro and his marauding Nihil forces has left scars across the galaxy and held the Republic hostage. Countless lives have been lost, beacons of hope have fallen, and the collective courage and resolve of the Republic have been tested like never before. Through it all the Jedi Order has endured, an unwavering candle against the encroaching darkness.

But the Jedi have yet to solve the mystery of the Nameless creatures who feed on the Force. Ro has loosed them upon the galaxy, striking fear into the heart of even the most stalwart Jedi. And yet with every life saved and world freed from Nihil control, the all-consuming blight, which devours everything wherever it appears, threatens to wipe it all away.

Everything now depends on nine brave Jedi, led by Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann, who embark on a treacherous journey to the Nameless homeworld. Their quest: to finally solve the mystery of the Nameless and their connection to the Force, and to stop the blight before its damage becomes irreversible.

But a final confrontation with Marchion Ro awaits. Ro, who is willing to sacrifice everything he's achieved to secure a final victory against the Jedi and carve his name into the very stars for all time.

Nothing less than the fate of everything, perhaps even the Force itself, is at stake.

Opening crawl

STAR WARS
THE HIGH REPUBLIC
TRIALS OF THE JEDI
The final confrontation between the Jedi and the Nihil looms. The valiant Jedi are
spread thin as they are put to the ultimate test on four separate fronts.

Some rally against NIHIL MARAUDERS who plan to punish the planet
ERIADU for its resistance to their rule. Others patrol the dangerous border of the
OCCLUSION ZONE, protecting planets from vicious Nihil raids. A brave few
struggle to stop the mysterious BLIGHT, an infection moving from planet to planet,
draining worlds of life. Still others battle the sinister MARCHION RO and his
monstrous NAMELESS CREATURES.

To save the Republic, the Jedi will face their fears in their most daunting
challenges yet. If they fail on just one of these battlefronts, the wave of
darkness will extinguish the light of the Jedi forever….

Plot summary

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Development

Writing process and drafts

The High Republic: Trials of the Jedi is the final novel of the Star Wars: The High Republic initiative[5] and, in words of author Charles Soule, "completes the story cycle" built over the course of the project. Soule himself had previously written the 2021 The High Republic novel The High Republic: Light of the Jedi, which had launched The High Republic initiative.[6] While writing Trials of the Jedi, Soule considered the work his "High Republic priority" and decided against working on other High Republic projects, such as the comic The Broken Blade, to ensure Trials was as good as possible.[7] The goal for Trials of the Jedi and other late High Republic stories, as was stated at the Lucasfilm Publishing Panel of New York Comic Con 2024, was to "go out on a high note" after years' worth of storytelling. Furthermore, the authors hoped to capture the same feel as the original wave of The High Republic works.[8] Soule also made an effort to ensure the book could be read by those unfamiliar with the larger The High Republic story or even the overall Star Wars mythology,[9] later joking that everyone on the Earth should read the book.[10]

Part of the development process involved The High Republic team getting back together in weekly meetings and calls, along with engaging in long text strings, to prepare the initiative's grand finale and work within the confines created by years of telling the era's story. The team found themselves with years worth of storytelling to be paid off and a finale deeply connected between various works, but he promised the team and himself were "old hands" at such a process by that point.[11] As part of his preparations for Trials of the Jedi, Soule read fellow author George Mann's novel The High Republic: Tears of the Nameless twice.[12] Soule said he was "deep into" Trials of the Jedi as of December 20, 2023.[13] On January 5, 2024, in honor of the third anniversary of The Light of the Jedi, Soule revealed he had "just finished" an outline of Trials of the Jedi and promised it would be fantastic.[6] Soule revealed the as of then current first line of Trials of the Jedi via his Twitter account on March 15, 2024. While Soule stated the line was subject to change,[14] editor Tom Hoeler stated the sentence had been approved.[15] While reading Soule's early drafts, Hoeler built an editorial music playlist.[16]

On April 9 of that year via his Twitter page, Soule revealed he had completed a chapter he deemed to be the best work he had written in sometime. He also revealed in the Tweet that Torban Buck would be a character in the book and was the point of view character in said chapter.[17] Soule further stated there would be many point of view chapters in the novel[18] and joked to Wookieepedia that the novel would see over 27,909 wiki pages in need of an update.[19] In his April Newsletter, Soule stated the novel was "proceeding apace."[11] On June 9 via Twitter, Soule reported he was "hard at work" on the novel. In that Tweet, he also promised point of view characters "never before shown in the High Republic."[5] When asked if that meant pre-existing High Republic Era characters whose points of view had not yet been explored in works or if it implied points of view from characters not yet seen in The High Republic would be featured, Soule implied both were the case.[20]

Other teases Soule provided at various points included that Jeffo Lorillia might appear in the novel,[21] something he later outright confirmed,[22] the book would address how common charhounds—a species seen throughout The High Republic via the individual charhound Ember—were in the galaxy,[23] Grand Master Yoda would have a point of view chapter of his own,[24] and the characters of Bell Zettifar, Burryaga Agaburry, and Ember were featured "all over" the book.[25] He also confirmed Joss Adren would appear, with Soule further stating one of his favorite moments was an internal monologue the man had with himself as to whether he needed another beer.[26] As of July 22, 2024, a draft of Trials of the Jedi existed in some form, with Soule sharing a copy of himself reading it before a fire on that day.[27] Hoeler revealed that he was reading through the book on August 21 of that year.[28]

At New York Comic Con 2024, it was stated that Trials of the Jedi was nearly completed. The panel teased that the book centered on the Jedi traveling to somewhere they had never ventured before[29] and was structured like a cyclone, beginning with a wide-reaching plot that, with time, grows narrower but more dangerous.[30] In particular, Soule stated that[31][32] the fates of the The High Republic cast would come down to "four or five pages"[33] late into the book. Soule stated the pages would make fans want to bang on a table.[32] On November 3, to provide Twitter users with a post that would not feed into doomscrolling, Soule revealed he was working on the third draft of Trials of the Jedi and promised fans it was "very good."[34]

Release and reception

Trials of the Jedi went up for preorder on September 18, 2024, with the planned release date of June 17, 2025.[35] The Lucasfilm Publishing Panel at New York Comic Con 2024 revealed concept art of Jedi Master Avar Kriss, former Jedi Azlin Rell, Jedi Knight Bell Zettifar, Knight Burryaga Agaburry, and Master Elzar Mann in Jedi Temple Guard-inspired armor[36] for Trials of the Jedi.[37][38] StarWars.com's recap article further promised they were ready to bring the battle to the Nihil and Nameless themselves.[36] The Trials of the Jedi cover, however, was specifically held back from being shown at the panel.[39] In his same November 3rd tweet about the book's third draft, Soule joked about how the "Powers That Be" had urged him not to spoil the book.[34] On November 4, Soule promised that the cover reveal was forthcoming.[40] On January 22, 2025, Soule revealed that the cover would be unveiled on January 28. He posted the bottom of the cover as a tease in the meantime.[41] Meanwhile, after listening to it for a final time, Hoeler decided against revealing his editorial music playlist and instead deleted it to ensure Trials of the Jedi spoke for itself.[16]

After Soule confirmed the cover reveal would come at 11:00 AM Eastern Time Zone via io9,[42] the cover was indeed revealed in an article by writer James Whitbrook[2] and by Soule himself, who described the novel as "everything you want" and more.[43] He also thanked Whitbrook for the "great launch piece" on io9.[44] As Soule had also promised,[42] he provided even more detailed in his personal newsletter, including the textless cover art. Soule revealed in that newsletter the novel had ended up around 125,000 words long, which he reckoned would result in an over 500 page novel.[45] Hoeler stated that the book was, by word count at least, shorter than the prior Star Wars book Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil[46] but affirmed the word count was around 125,000, which he stated was not even fully locked in yet.[47] On April 24, 2025, Soule released the book's prologue via his YouTube channel, with him reading the excerpt.[48]

Continuity

Media

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Editions

Cover gallery

Appearances

By type
Characters Organisms Droid models Events Locations
Organizations and titles Sentient species Vehicles and vessels Weapons and technology Miscellanea

Characters

Organisms

Droid models

Events

Locations

Organizations and titles

Sentient species

Vehicles and vessels

Weapons and technology

Miscellanea


Sources

Notes and references

  1. 1.0 1.1 StarWars.com SWCE 2023: 9 Things We Learned from the Star Wars: The High Republic Panel on StarWars.com (backup link)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Premium-Era-real Star Wars' High Republic Is Ready to Take Its Final Bow by Whitbrook, James on Gizmodo (January 28, 2025) (backup link archived on January 28, 2025)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 PenguinRandomHouse-Logo Star Wars: Trials of the Jedi (The High Republic) on Penguin Random House's official website (backup link)
  4. The events of The High Republic: Trials of the Jedi begin in 228 BBY and conclude around the same year per the reasoning here.
  5. 5.0 5.1 TwitterLogo Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) on Twitter (post): "I'm working hard on TRIALS OF THE JEDI, the final High Republic novel in the story we've been telling since LIGHT OF THE JEDI back in 2021. It's out in 2025. TRIALS has chapters with POV characters never before shown in the High Republic. Who would you most like to see?" (backup link)
  6. 6.0 6.1 TwitterLogo Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) on Twitter (post): "Seems appropriate that I just finished my outline for the novel that will complete the story cycle we've all been building for all these years - TRIALS OF THE JEDI is coming, and it is pure [lightning emoji]" (backup link)
  7. TwitterLogo Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) on Twitter (post): "A long time from now. I'm working on TRIALS OF THE JEDI, and that is my High Republic priority. Trials needs to be perfect!" (backup link)
  8. TwitterLogo ardokranch (@ardokranch) on Twitter (post): ""we don't want to go out NOT on a high note and we want these stories to feel like when you first read the high republic in 2020"" (backup link)
  9. TwitterLogo Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) on Twitter (post): "TRIALS OF THE JEDI is designed to be read by anyone - people who are High Republic die-hards, folks who haven't read anything except LIGHT OF THE JEDI, and even people who don’t know what Star Wars is." (backup link)
  10. TwitterLogo Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) on Twitter (post): "That middle point, if it's good for people who have only read one story of the High Republic does that mean it's not going to tie heavily into everything that has come before since they wouldn't understand it? Or am I misreading that? Can't wait for the book! (In response to: "")" (backup link)
  11. 11.0 11.1 TwitterLogo Star Wars Splash Page (@SWSplashPagePod) on Twitter (post): "In his latest newsletter (if you haven't yet subscribed, you should -- https://mailchi.mp/f0a5b413051c/charlessoule…), Charles Soule provides an update on his work with #StarWars #TheHighRepublic." (backup link)
  12. TwitterLogo Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) on Twitter (post): "Congratulations to George Mann on the release of the latest addition to the High Republic mega-story: TEARS OF THE NAMELESS I read it twice while prepping for TRIALS OF THE JEDI - it's *excellent*, with key reveals re: the Nameless and the Blight, and a great adventure to boot!" (backup link)
  13. TwitterLogo Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) on Twitter (post): "For those wondering, THE BROKEN BLADE is a ways out. I am deep into TRIALS OF THE JEDI at the moment, and that's taking my entire High Republic brain." (backup link)
  14. TwitterLogo Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) on Twitter (post): "Current first sentence of TRIALS OF THE JEDI (subject to change!!!): "You may have heard things about the Force."" (backup link)
  15. TwitterLogo Tom Hoeler (@DarthInternous) on Twitter (post): "Editor approved." (backup link)
  16. 16.0 16.1 TwitterLogo Tom Hoeler (@DarthInternous) on Twitter (post): "Listened to my editorial playlist for #TrialsoftheJedi one more time. Built it as I was working through Charles' various early drafts. Then I deleted it. I think we'll just let the final #StarWarsTheHighRepublic book speak for itself in June." (backup link)
  17. TwitterLogo Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) on Twitter (post): "The chapter I just wrote for TRIALS OF THE JEDI is the best thing I've done in a while. Torban Buck is the POV." (screenshot)
  18. TwitterLogo Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) on Twitter (post): "9 meters tall (In response to: "How many POV's are we getting?")" (screenshot)
  19. TwitterLogo Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) on Twitter (post): "You folks will have to update 27,909 entries (and counting) (In response to: "We're looking forward to it!")" (screenshot)
  20. TwitterLogo Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) on Twitter (post): "Yes it does. (In response to: "does this mean characters whose POV we've not seen in THR media or characters we've not seen in THR whatsoever")" (backup link)
  21. TwitterLogo Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) on Twitter (post): "I think Jeffo is in Trials?" (backup link)
  22. Threads-Logo Charles Soule (@charlesdsoule) on Threads (post on December 26, 2024): "2025 will be pretty Muuntastic too. JEFFO LORILLIA IS BACk in TRIALS OF THE JEDI out in June! JEFFO LORILLIA STANS REJOICE! (Both of you)" (backup link)
  23. TwitterLogo Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) on Twitter (post): "This is addressed in TRIALS OF THE JEDI. (In response to "Are charhound's very rare? Could Ember have a buddy somewhere in the galaxy?")" (backup link)
  24. TwitterLogo Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) on Twitter (post): "Yoda is one. (In response to: "Maz Kanata or Yoda")" (backup link)
  25. TwitterLogo Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) on Twitter (post): "They're all over it, don't fret! (In response to: "I know people love the firebrands but I really want you to revisit Bell , Burry and Ember. They have had such a journey together. My favorite 3 from the books 🥹")" (backup link)
  26. TwitterLogo Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) on Twitter (post): "One of my favorite chapters in TRIALS OF THE JEDI involves Joss Adren having a spirited debate with himself as to whether he should have a second beer." (backup link)
  27. TwitterLogo Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) on Twitter (post): "Feeling pretty good about this one." (backup link)
  28. TwitterLogo Tom Hoeler (@DarthInternous) on Twitter (post): "🎶This is the way you left me, I'm not pretending...🎶 #StarWarsTheHighRepublic #TrialsoftheJedi" (backup link)
  29. TwitterLogo ardokranch (@ardokranch) on Twitter (post): "trials of the jedi is mostly done and apparently is entirely about jedi going somewhere they haven'g gonr before" (backup link)
  30. TwitterLogo ardokranch (@ardokranch) on Twitter (post): ""trials of the Jedi feels like a cyclone. at the top its wide, swirling around but as the book continues some of those things get resolved and the plot gets narrower and narrower but the winds get faster and faster"" (backup link)
  31. TwitterLogo sawyeurism (@sawyeurism) on Twitter (post): "Charles Soule says everyone's lives will come down to the last 5 pages of Trials of the Jedi..." (backup link)
  32. 32.0 32.1 TwitterLogo ArezouAmin (@ArezouAmin) on Twitter (post): "As we get towards the end of Trials of the Jedi, every characters life comes down to 4-5 pages at the end of the book, and you will feel *bangs on the table* - Charles Soule on Trials of the Jedi" (backup link)
  33. TwitterLogo ardokranch (@ardokranch) on Twitter (post): ""every character you know from all the books will have their lives come down to four or five pages"" (backup link)
  34. 34.0 34.1 TwitterLogo Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) on Twitter (post): "Something for your scrolling that isn't doom: I'm working on the third draft of TRIALS OF THE JEDI, which is mostly shining up and polishing. Sorry, **Powers That Be***I know I'm not supposed to spoil things but this book is v v v V good." (backup link)
  35. TwitterLogo Star Wars Books & Comics (@swbooks) on Twitter (post): "The final book in the #StarWarsTheHighRepublic initiative, #TrialsOfTheJedi by @CharlesSoule, is now up for preorder for a June 17, 2025 release" (backup link)
  36. 36.0 36.1 StarWars.com NYCC 2024: All the Star Wars News and Reveals from New York Comic-Con on StarWars.com (backup link)
  37. TwitterLogo sawyeurism (@sawyeurism) on Twitter (post): "NEW concept art for Avar Kriss, Elzar Mann, Bell Zettifar, Burryaga, and Azlin Rell in armor for Trials of the Jedi!" (backup link)
  38. TwitterLogo ArezouAmin (@ArezouAmin) on Twitter (post): "Avar, Elzar, Bell, Burry and Azlin in armor in Trials of the Jedi concept art (I wish I had more details my phone crashed)" (backup link)
  39. TwitterLogo ardokranch (@ardokranch) on Twitter (post): "they specifically told us they were keeping the trials of the jedi cover under wraps 😭" (backup link)
  40. TwitterLogo Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) on Twitter (post): "That's amazing! We'll get a real cover for this thing up there one of these days." (backup link)
  41. BlueskyLogo Charles Soule (@charlessoule.bsky.social) on Bluesky (post on January 22, 2025): "hey TRIALS OF THE JEDI cover reveal Tuesday yep here's a little tease" (backup link)
  42. 42.0 42.1 BlueskyLogo Charles Soule (@charlessoule.bsky.social) on Bluesky (post on January 26, 2025): "The cover reveal for my next novel TRIALS OF THE JEDI drops on io9 today, 11 AM EST! Also at 11: my newsletter, where I'll reveal secrets about the cover that io9 won’t! (Or… can't, because I don't think we told them.) Plus Kylo Ren, ded Watto and a big party at C2E2! Sign up at charlessoule.com!" (backup link)
  43. BlueskyLogo Charles Soule (@charlessoule.bsky.social) on Bluesky (post on January 28, 2025): "TRIALS OF THE JEDI. The final High Republic novel. June 17, 2025. It's everything you want. And then some. Pre-order here:" (backup link)
  44. BlueskyLogo Charles Soule (@charlessoule.bsky.social) on Bluesky (post on January 28, 2025): "And the great launch piece by @jwhitbrook.bsky.social of @io9dotcom.bsky.social" (backup link)
  45. Email from Charles Soule on January 28, 2025 — Used with permission
  46. TwitterLogo Tom Hoeler (@DarthInternous) on Twitter (post): "It will not. (not by word count) (In response to: "so curious if it's gonna be longer than lesser evil")" (backup link)
  47. TwitterLogo Tom Hoeler (@DarthInternous) on Twitter (post): "Not *quite*at a locked word count for #TrialsoftheJedi which is around 125k at the moment. Here's how it compares to other longest THR novels. Rising Storm - 123,059 Cataclysm - 127,725 Temptation - 128, 403 (adult only, don't have the word counts on MG or YA handy)" (backup link)
  48. YouTube Trials of the Jedi - The Prologue on the cdsoule YouTube channel (backup link)
  49. 49.0 49.1 49.2 49.3 The High Republic: Trials of the Jedi
  50. The High Republic Adventures (2021) 5
  51. Star Wars: The High Republic: The Lightsaber Collection
  52. SWInsider "Tales from the Occlusion Zone: Sparks Fly" — Star Wars Insider 230
  53. 53.0 53.1 The High Republic – Fear of the Jedi 3
  54. EdelweissPlus-Logo Star Wars: Trials of the Jedi on the official Edelweiss website (backup link)

External links